Why a Journal of Brain Health?

Brain health has been variously defined by a number of groups; however, a broad consensus definition remains to be determined. A key objective of the Journal is to advance a consensus definition, drawing on insights from its contributing authors. Thus, we invite a broad range of articles focused on brain health to support this emerging field. There are three arguments for starting the Journal of Brain Health at this time, i.e., the scientific, economic, and equity-based rationales, which we describe below.

Scientific Rationale

Brain health as a field of study is broad and encompasses psychology, cognitive science, neuroimaging, the arts, and—critically—health economics, mental health, public health and policy, in addition to neurology, psychiatry and neuroscience. Advancing this field demands interdisciplinary perspectives and convergence of discoveries across disciplines from around the world to generate new insights into exposures and risk factors that threaten brain health, as well as proactive treatment approaches that are tailored to diverse communities. Yet, global scientific discourse is heavily shaped by research produced in high-income countries, introducing foundational biases into the evidence base. As artificial intelligence tools in medicine increasingly rely on datasets from the Global North, entire populations risk exclusion– along with their unique constellations of exposures, disease presentations, and cultural contexts—resulting in inequitable detection, prevention, brain health promotion, and care strategies.1–3

Economic Rationale

Brain health, or lack thereof, has enormous economic implications. Neurological and psychiatric conditions are now the leading cause of disability worldwide,4 and 90% of this burden is borne by lower-and-middle-income-countries (LMICs).5 As these populations age rapidly, the societal and economic costs of brain disorders are projected to escalate. Weak health systems and limited access to care further compound the challenge, yet research from LMICs remains scarce. This gap in representation from LMICs limits governments’ ability to plan and invest in effective, evidence-based brain health strategies.6 Governments and health systems require evidence that is locally generated, interpreted, and published by their own scientists in order to successfully drive public policy measures.

Equity Rationale

The case for equity in brain health is both urgent and ethical. Although LMICs bear a disproportionate burden of brain health challenges, their researchers remain under-represented in the scientific literature. Culturally appropriate solutions cannot be developed or adopted without robust local data.7 While partnerships between institutions in the Global North and South have facilitated progress in research, power imbalances persist. These include unequal authorship roles8 and insufficient recognition of context-specific findings.9 Moreover, high article processing charges and structural barriers continue to prevent many LMIC researchers from publishing their work, limiting visibility, policy influence, and innovation.

Our Mission and Approach

The Journal of Brain Health was created to challenge the status quo in scientific publishing. Equity is our foundation. Education is our driving force. The global advancement of science is our goal. We are committed to:

  • Publishing high-quality, peer-reviewed research from scientists around the world, regardless of their ability to pay.

  • Providing plain-language summaries alongside research articles to promote accessibility.

  • Publishing in English, with abstracts available in additional languages at the authors’ request.

  • Upholding rigorous standards for peer review.

  • Operating a not-for-profit model: our publication fees exist only to cover real costs.

Publication Priorities

We prioritize articles that advance understanding, prevention, and promotion of brain health across the life course. This includes research focused on:

  • Enhancing and strengthening brain health across the life course

  • Development of valid, ethical, and scalable tools to quantify brain health

  • The intersection of creativity, the arts, and brain function

  • Interventions tailored to culturally diverse populations

  • Social and structural determinants of brain health

  • Modifiable risk factors for cognitive decline and dementia

  • Health policy responses and system-level innovations in brain health

We also welcome timely commentaries on global events or trends that influence the brain health landscape. We publish:

  • Original research

  • Short reports

  • In-depth perspectives

  • Editorials

  • Comprehensive reviews and meta-analyses will be published by invitation only

Submission Guidelines

Submissions should follow the structure: Introduction, Objectives, Methods, Results, and Discussion. Authors are strongly encouraged to use appropriate reporting checklists from the EQUATOR Network to ensure transparency and methodological rigor. Conflicts of interest must be declared using the ICMJE disclosure form. Copyright and responsibility for scientific integrity remain with the authors. Please consult our Instructions for Authors for detailed formatting and submission requirements.

Editorial Leadership

Editor-in-Chief

Kathleen M. Hayden, Ireland

Executive Editors

Ara S. Khachaturian, USA
Dominic Trépel, Ireland

Associate Editors

Madhur Basnet, Nepal
Carolina Bidó Bello, Dominican Republic
David Brodie-Mends, Ghana
Emilie V. Brotherhood, UK
Olga Castãner, Spain
Aaron Colverson, USA
Sarah J. Cullum, New Zealand
David De Jong-Bambagioni, Netherlands
Dafne Durón Reyes, Mexico
Tavia Evans, Netherlands
Temitope Farombi, Nigeria
Brian Kennedy, USA
Mawuli Lawson, Togo
Susana Lay, Peru
Ignacio Lopez Barrenechea, Chile
José David López, Colombia
Sonata Mačiulskytė, Lithuania
Kwaku Sarfo Manu, Ghana
Michelle Memran, USA
Joaquín Migeot, Chile
Damas Mlaki, Tanzania
Ixim Morales, Guatemala
Webnyu, Njamnshi, Cameroon
Carlos Orellana Diaz, Chile
Pongpat Putthinun, Thailand
Pablo Reyes, Colombia
Kiggundo Rodney Erismas, Uganda
Sonia L. Sanchez Mendoza, Mexico
Eduardo Danilo Schmitz, Brazil
Raluca Sfetcu, Romania
Faith Simushi, Zambia
Sara Solis, Mexico
Chi Udeh-Momoh, USA
Paulina Vergara, Chile
Muluken Yenesew, Ethiopia

Editorial Advisory Committee

Faheem Arshad, NIMHANS, India
John C.S. Breitner, McGill University, Canada
Sandra Bond Chapman, Center for BrainHealth-UTD, USA
Lori Cook, Center for BrainHealth-UTD, USA
Maria Corrada, UC Irvine, USA
Mark A. Espeland, Wake Forest University, USA
Harris Eyre, Rice University and UTMB, USA
Sherril B. Gelmon, Portland State University, USA
Rajesh Kalaria, Newcastle University, UK
Seán Kennelly, Tallaght University Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
Brian Lawlor, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
Iracema Leroi, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
Alejandro Lopez, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
Michelle Mielke, Wake Forest University, USA
Graciela Muniz Terrera, University of Edinburgh, UK
Lorina Naci, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
John O’Brien, University of Cambridge, UK
Adesola Ogunniyi, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
Craig Ritchie, Scottish Brain Sciences; University of St Andrews, UK
Ian Robertson, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
Perminder S. Sachdev, UNSW, Sydney, Australia
Nisha Sajnani, New York University, USA
Adam Smith, University College London, UK
Jane G. Wigginton, Center for BrainHealth-UTD, USA

Our editorial team represents a diverse group of scientists, clinicians, and artists from across the globe. We are united by a shared vision: to elevate brain health research, to remove financial and structural barriers to scientific publishing, and to amplify the contributions of talented researchers everywhere.